Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
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PRESS RELEASE
March 11, 2009
Contact: Michael A Zachariades
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RECOGNITION A PRIORITY, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SEND
PRESIDENT OBAMA LETTER PRIOR TO PLANNED TRIP TO TURKEY
Washington, DC – On March 10, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), joined by
Representative George Radanovich (R-CA) and the Co-Chairs of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Representatives Frank Pallone,
Jr. (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), sent a letter to President Barack Obama
thanking him for his strong record in support of Genocide affirmation
and urging him to remain steadfast in his commitment. The letter comes
after a recent announcement that President Obama plans to visit Turkey
next month, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly).
"During your upcoming trip to Turkey," the letter reads, "and in
discussions with your advisors over how to commemorate the events of
1915-1923, you will doubtless be counseled by some to continue the
practice of avoiding the truth in favor of short-term political
expediency. We do not minimize Ankara’s threats of adverse action when
you recognize the genocide, or when Congress takes action to formally
recognize the genocide, but we believe that our alliance is strong
enough to withstand the truth."
The letter also recalls President Obama’s record on the issue and how he
has "demonstrated time and again [his] understanding of the importance
to Armenian-Americans of formal American recognition of the crime that
was committed against their parents, grandparents and
great-grandparents." Adding that "their pain is not unlike that of
American Jews, who live each day with the memory of the Holocaust…
Whether it is today’s Sudanese government or yesterday’s Ottoman Empire,
the perpetrators of genocide, as well as the victims, must know that the
United States will not shrink from confronting the truth."
"President Obama’s upcoming trip to Turkey presents a unique opportunity
to address the consequences of genocide and its denial. We, therefore,
applaud the initiative of Representatives Schiff, Radanovich, Pallone
and Kirk," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding
and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
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NR#2009-014
Editor’s Note: The complete text of the letter is available here.
POTUS_Armenian_Genocide
_3.10.09.pdf
To read Obama’s record on the issue, click here.
9_Q1/Obamas_Legislative_Reco
rd__3a_.pdf
The Assembly’s video about Obama’s record is available here.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
